She is a 14 year old AQHA foundation bred mare. I have been riding her in an O ring snaffle bit, but she pulls on the bit wither I apply pressure or not. I can hold the reins lose with no contact and she still will pull the bit down. When she pulls it’s all the way till her muzzle almost touches the ground. She has also done this to me at a trot and has almost pulled me out of the saddle over her head, because she will just dead stop and pull the bit down. My mare is a good horse over all, it’s just she does this which I hate. I would like to fix the problem, but I don’t know how. The guy I got her from said you could ride her in a snaffle or a cow horse bit. I tried a Jr. Cow horse bit, but she didn’t like it and I think it was because it was too small. My O ring snaffle has a 6” mouth where that had a 5” (in less I measured my O ring snaffle wrong). I found this bit “Twisted Sweet Iron Wire Ring Snaffle Bit” at my local tractor supply store that I thought would help her (from reading what the bits used for), but I haven’t bought it because of would like to know if it would work or not beforehand. I would also like to know if I should put her in a curve bit to not only maybe fix the problem above, but also so I can re-teach her to neck rein. Or can I keep her in a snaffle bit and also neck rein?
Thanks : )
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Has she had her teeth done recently? She's trying to escape some discomfort, whether it be sharp teeth or a headstall that is too tight. Personally, I don't believe this is a bit issue per say what kind of bit will make a difference, she's hurting somewhere.
As far as teaching your horse to neck rein, keep her in a snaffle. When you are neck reining, the goal is to not be applying pressure to the mouth anyway, so it doesn't matter what kind of bit you have in. If you horse is trained in a snaffle, keep her in a snaffle. Chances are she won't get the hang of neck reining immediately, so you can guide her with direct reining signals if need be. Ask what she doesn't know (neck reining) and if she doesn't respond ask with what she does know (direct reining). She'll connect the two.
A curb bit is for refinement. I got my horse like butter in a snaffle and when I tried a curb bit in she was unbelievably sensitive, which is good!
Keep her in the snaffle but add an over check strap like on a driving bridle so that she can't get her head down. When she starts to pull against the over check do not try to pull her head up at all. Instead gig her hard in the belly with your legs and/or a whip. Her head will come right up. If it doesn't smack her harder and harder until it does come up. Whatever you do don't pull on her face. Keep riding her in the over check and with a whip until she stops the behavior. Be consistent. Never try to pull her head up or let her pull and pull against the over check. Use that whip and/or your legs right away every time. She'll get the idea.
If you want to teach her to neck rein you should do it in a snaffle or bosal. A finished western horse can ride with a curb. Curb bits are leverage bits and watch this video on why they are bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rHqP00azyc
a really nice, heavy straight bit. if its too light weight, it will float around in the mouth and harm the teeth